Why the Dam’s ideal for the Liberal-minded

Organizers of last weeks’s ELDR annual congress in Amsterdam didn’t exactly push the boat out when it came to dishing out souvenirs to delegates.

Dutch Liberal parties VVD and D66, which co-hosted the three-day event, distributed packets of mints and balloons respectively, while the ELDR effort amounted to tiny chocolate bars. Still, these were a tad more tasteful that some of the items available just round the corner from the posh, five-star Krasnapolsky hotel in which the event was staged.

This being Amsterdam, these included a bedside orgy kit (€27), ‘Dunking Dickies’ (€9.50), an EU condom holder and a ‘pleasure guide’ to the city’s red light district.

The congress was notable almost as much for some of the big-name absentees as for those who attended. The Commission’s centre-left president, Romano Prodi, wasn’t there, nor was Charles Kennedy, leader of the UK Liberal Party. Kennedy had to pull out at the last minute, leaving Liberal group leader Graham Watson to bemoan: “It’s often easier to get people to attend these sort of events who are in power than those in opposition.”

Also missing was Finnish MP and ELDR vice-president Maria Kaisa Aula. But at least she had a good reason – she’s due to give birth next month.

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